Post navigation

Weekly Magazine

SYMPHONY CONDUCTOR Daniel Stewart made the announcement on the weekend of March 25 as an add-on to his describing his 2017-18 season. But this extra event was not made official until last Wednesday in order to give Santa Cruz and Watsonville audiences first crack at tickets to hear this hugely popular artist. And, like her first appearance with Stewart and his orchestra this current season, she will play two concertos, the firsts of both Beethoven and Brahms. The concerts will take place at Santa Cruz Civic on June 24 and at Watsonville’s Mello on June 25. For details, click HERE

WILL WALLACE, 1930-2017IN SORROW Lee Durley wrote to us on the weekend, “Will has been and is a treasure in the Monterey Peninsula area for well over 40 years. This retired military and postal employee was mostly known from being an official photographer for the world class Monterey Jazz Festival and the Monterey Bay Blues Festival of which he was a long time member. He also was a very popular figure in the ballroom dancing community. He was known to be the kindest, sweetest, [most] generous and committed friend as attested in the many Face Book comments. Will’s only wish was to have a celebration of his life, a homecoming featuring his family members, live music from the many musicians he has photographed, the many friends he has attracted over the decades and anyone who enjoys a good time.” Funds have been raised and the “homecoming” will take place on May 7, 3-6pm, at the Hyatt Regency Monterey ballroom. Having been promised many more of Will’s stories that I will now never know, your editor already misses him greatly. Here he is, at left, teaching my granddaughter West Coast Swing.

LOOKING AHEAD AT THE BACH FESTIVAL

MUSIC DIRECTOR Paul Goodwin talks up Mozart.

PACREP’S SoDA OFFERS CABARET CLASS

FOR ADULTS who love to sing and would like to break into song in public, PacRep’s School of Dramatic Arts offers The Art of Cabaret, with Barbara Brussell. The six-week course, Sundays, 7-8:30pm, begins this Sunday, April 9 (excepting Easter, Apr. 16) through May 21, at the Indoor Forest Theater in Carmel. An accompanist will be provided. For details, contact Diane Goyette at the School of Dramatic Arts: 622-9175 or by email at:SoDApacrep@att.net

DIGITAL TECH IS REMAKING MUSIC EDUCATION

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN that individual practice is often not productive because learners receive limited feedback and too often lose interest and motivation. Click HERE

MAKING BELLS FOR THE POPE

THE MARINELLI FAMILY has made bells in Agnone for 25 generations.

JEAN-PHILIPPE COLLARD REVISITED

IN HIS RECENT recital in Carmel, the highly lauded French pianist played Robert Schumann’s Fantasie—among other works. At the same time, his new recording of it, and another Schumann masterpiece, was issued on La Dolce Vita label. It’s a fresh and timely way to relive that Carmel experience. The CD also includes a transcribed interview with the artist on the subject of the Schumann.

HIPLET IS HIP IN CHI-TOWN

AND SOME LIKE IT SKA IN LA

MUSIC CRITICISM TRADED IN

ARTS CRITICISM is more needed than ever. But it has self-degraded into Lifestyle reporting. Everybody talks about holding those in authority to account, but the mainstream media has capitulated its primary responsibility in favor of feel-good. Just look around the Monterey Bay Area. The days of truly professional criticism—yes, we did have that here—and performing-arts journalism have almost totally devolved into press-release rewrites and self-indulgent preening. How bad is it nationally? Click HERE

DONALD TRUMP VS BIG BIRD

NEW YORK TIMES columnist Nicholas Kristof defends the humanities. Click HERE